GABA-transaminase, the liver and infantile autism

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mammalian brain and the enzyme responsible for catabolism (breakdown in the liver during regulation) is GABA-Transaminase (GABA-T). Recently, Cohen (1) has shown that extremely high GABA levels in the urine and blood were observed for an autistic child. The finding that elevated levels of GABA in the urine and blood are present for an autistic child could explain why autistic features (such as self-stimulatory behavior and language delays, etc.) are found. Increasing the GABA-T enzyme activity for this autistic patient could result in less plasma GABA (after liver regulation) entering into the bloodsteam and brain and it is postulated that this could result in a reduction of the autistic features (such as self-stimulatory behavior and language delays, etc.) due to abnormal development of the axon(s) in the corpus callosum. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.